Espen is a Norwegian masculine given name. In Norway it reached the peak of its popularity between 1970 and 1990, during which period approximately 1.1% of children were given that name.

Origin and variants

It originated as a variant of

Asbjørn Asbjørn is a Norwegian and Danish male given name. In 2013, there were more than 7,000 men in Norway with this name. In Norway it reached the peak of its popularity between 1910 and 1930, during which period approximately 1% of children were gi ...

or Esben.

Given name

Notable people with the given name include:

Artists

* Espen Aalberg, Norwegian jazz musician, drummer * Espen Berg (musician) (born 1983), Norwegian musician, arranger and composer * Espen Dietrichson (born 1976), Norwegian artist *

Espen Eckbo Espen Andersen Eckbo (born 22 April 1973) is a Norwegian actor, writer and comedian. He was born in Oslo, and grew up in Bestum. He now lives in Ullevål Hageby. Eckbo has no formal training as an actor, but has a background as a law student f ...

(born 1973), Norwegian actor, writer and comedian *

Espen Sommer Eide Espen Sommer Eide (born in 1972) is a Norwegian composer and musician. Espen Sommer Eide was born in Oslo, Norway. Espen played music originally on percussion instruments, flutes and trumpet, before emphasising computer-generated sounds. He live ...

(born 1972), Norwegian composer and musician * Espen Eriksen, Norwegian jazz musician founder of Espen Eriksen Trio * Espen Grjotheim (born 1976), Norwegian singer and actor * Espen Haavardsholm (born 1945), Norwegian novelist, poet, biographer and essayist * Espen Klouman Høiner (born 1981), Norwegian writer and actor *

Espen Beranek Holm Espen Beranek Holm (born 23 March 1960) is a Norwegians, Norwegian pop artist and comedian. Career Beranek is a Norwegian solo artist. His debut single ''Dra te' hælvete'' (1981), which was a great success, caused controversy when the song was ...

(born 1960), Norwegian pop artist and comedian * Espen Lervaag (born 1977), Norwegian writer, comedian and actor *

Espen Lind Espen Lind (born 13 May 1971) is a Norwegian record producer, songwriter, singer, and multi-instrumentalist. He is one half of the production team Espionage, and together with his long time partner Amund Bjorklund he has written and/or produced ...

(born 1971), Norwegian record producer, songwriter, singer, and multi-instrumentalist * Espen Rud (born 1948), Norwegian jazz musician, drummer, composer, and music arranger * Espen Salberg (born 1952), Norwegian ballroom dancer * Espen Sandberg (born 1971), Norwegian film director and advertising producer * Espen Selvik, Norwegian conductor, composer, music reviewer and writer * Espen Skjønberg (1924–2022), Norwegian stage, screen and television actor * Espen Søbye (born 1954), Norwegian author and literary critic * Espen Sørensen, Danish singer and musician * Espen Stenhammer, Norwegian singer, member of Norwegian pop rock band Di Derre * Espen Stueland (born 1970), Norwegian poet, novelist, literary critic and essayist * Espen Wensaas (born 1986), Norwegian musician and multi-instrumentalistm mainly mandolin, mandolin-family instruments and guitar

Sports people

* Espen Agdestein (born 1965), Norwegian chess player * Espen Andersen (born 1961), Norwegian Nordic combined skier * Espen Andersen (skier) (born 1993), Norwegian Nordic combined skier * Espen Aune (born 1982), Norwegian professional strongman competitor and winner of the 2011 Norway's Strongest Man * Espen Baardsen (born 1977), Norwegian footballer * Espen Harald Bjerke (born 1980), Norwegian cross-country skier * Espen Bjervig (born 1972), Norwegian cross-country skier * Espen Borge (born 1961), Norwegian runner specializing in 1500 metres and 3000 metres steeplechase * Espen Christensen (born 1985), Norwegian handball player * Espen Haug (footballer, born 1970), Norwegian footballer and coach * Espen Isaksen (born 1979), Norwegian footballer * Espen Berg-Knutsen (born 1969), Norwegian sport shooter * Espen Knutsen (born 1972), Norwegian ice hockey player * Espen Berntsen (born 1967), Norwegian football referee * Espen Børufsen (born 1988), Norwegian footballer * Espen Bredesen (born 1968), Norwegian ski jumper * Espen Giljane (born 1962), Norwegian ballet teacher and dancer * Espen Hagh (born 1974), Norwegian footballer * Espen Hægeland (born 1981), Norwegian footballer * Espen Lie Hansen (born 1989), Norwegian handball player * Espen Hoff (born 1981), Norwegian footballer * Espen Aarnes Hvammen (born 1988), Norwegian speed skater * Espen Johnsen (born 1979), Norwegian footballer * Espen Kofstad (born 1987), Norwegian golfer * Espen Lie (born 1984), Norwegian chess player * Espen Lindqvist, Norwegian bridge player * Espen Lysdahl (born 1990), Norwegian alpine ski racer * Espen Minde (born 1983), Norwegian footballer * Espen Nystuen (born 1981), Norwegian footballer * Espen Olsen (born 1979), Norwegian footballer * Espen Bugge Pettersen (born 1980), Norwegian footballer * Espen Rian (born 1981), Norwegian Nordic combined skier * Espen Ruud (born 1984), Norwegian footballer * Espen Søgård (born 1979), Norwegian footballer * Espen Stokkeland (born 1968), Norwegian sailor and Olympic medalist * Espen Tveit (born 1991), Norwegian speed skater

Others

Espen Aarseth Espen J. Aarseth (born 1965) is a Norwegian academic specializing in the fields of video game studies and electronic literature. Aarseth completed his doctorate at the University of Bergen. He co-founded the Department of Humanistic Informatics at ...

(born 1965), Norwegian media scholar and game researcher *

Espen Berg Espen Berg (born 6 July 1981) is a Norwegian people, Norwegian humanitarian. Espen is the Entrepreneur, founder and CEO of the United Youth Development Organization. Espen completed a BA (Hons) in International Business at Bournemouth University ...

(born 1981), Norwegian humanitarian *

Espen Barth Eide Espen Barth Eide (born 1 May 1964) is a Norwegian politician and political scientist. He is currently serving as the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Jonas Gahr Støre's government, having previously done so under Jens Stoltenberg. He has been ...

(born 1964), Norwegian politician and political scientist * Espen Hammer (born 1966), Norwegian philosopher * Espen Egil Hansen (born 1965), Norwegian newspaper editor and publisher * Espen Johnsen (politician) (born 1976), Norwegian politician * Espen Rostrup Nakstad (born 1975), Norwegian physician

Middle name

* B. Espen Eckbo, American economist and professor * Jon Espen Lohne (born 1964), Norwegian businessperson in the media sector * Per Espen Stoknes (born 1967), Norwegian psychologist and politician * Trond Espen Seim (born 1971), Norwegian actor * Carl Espen Thorbjørnsen (born 1982), better known as simply Carl Espen, Norwegian singer and songwriter, who represented Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 * Jarl Espen Ygranes (born 1979), Norwegian ice hockey player

Surname

* Carl Espen (born 1982), Norwegian singer and songwriter * Vincent Espen (born 1986), French badminton player

References

{{given name Norwegian masculine given names Masculine given names